by LS Anders
Stretching her back, she wandered into the bedroom and straightened the scattered throw pillows, smiling as she did. Who knew having something you picked out yourself could create so much joy.
The glowing numbers on the clock caught her eye. Time had gotten away from her. She better get moving or she would be late for her dinner date with Tegan.
Showering quickly, she dried off and opened the top drawer of the vanity where she kept her brush and hair accessories. The envelope she had carefully placed the single strand of Tegan’s ebony hair was where she had left it, tucked into the side of the drawer for safe keeping.
Chuckling out loud, she lifted the flap and fished out the hair. Holding it up to the light, it slowly waved back and forth. She had kept the strand thinking she could somehow glean out an understanding of him if she kept his DNA. Well, she had certainly gotten his genetic code.
Carefully replacing the hair and tucking the envelope back into the drawer, she couldn’t erase the smile off her face as she placed her hand over her still flat belly.
Tegan stood rigid as a telephone pole, ready to scream as he waited two-hundred-fucking-years for the elevator to make its way down to the lobby of Rayna’s building. The tightly bound bundle of pink roses shook slightly in his hand.
The elevator finally opened and an elderly lady stepped out, her cane leading the way. Tegan stepped to the side to let her pass, placing his hand against the jamb so the elevator door wouldn’t close before she could exit.
“Thank you,” she said, gifting him with a smile.
“You’re welcome,” Tegan replied, taken aback at the lady’s kind greeting. Most people either made an effort to ignore him or looked away quickly as to not draw attention to themselves. “Let me get the other door for you.”
Taking his hand away from the elevator, it closed immediately. Grinding his teeth, he didn’t have a drop of patience left to wait knowing Rayna was just a few floors above his head, but he was just going to have to tough it out. He wasn’t about to forgo common courtesy over his own impatience.
“I can’t help but notice that lovely bouquet of roses. Are you on your way to pick up your date?”
“Yes ma’am,” Tegan answered, holding the lobby door opened.
“Well, she’s a lucky girl. I didn’t realize men still brought flowers to their dates nowadays.”
“I’m trying to win her over.”
“Oh, I see. Like an old-fashioned courtship,” she grinned, patting his arm as she slowly exited to the sidewalk. “I wish you the best of luck.”
“Thank you. I’m going to need it. Will you be alright out there on your own?” Tegan nodded to the busy city beyond.
“Oh, yes. I’ve lived here my whole life. Have a good evening.”
“And you as well.” Tegan stood a moment to watch as the lady made her way slowly down the sidewalk and over to the crosswalk.
He had never known his grandparents on either side of his family. He wanted his and Rayna’s child to have at least one set. He was thrilled that the Mathieu’s were jumping at the chance to get their hands on a grandbaby, especially Mama C. She had been pestering Vehn for years to make her a grandmother.
Wandering back through the lobby, he found himself back where he’d started, staring at the closed elevator door. He was still just as anxious to see her, but his hand no longer shook. The elderly lady seemed to have a calming effect on him. Glancing back at the lobby door, he wondered about her, if she still had family or anyone she could depend on. He would make it a point to ask Rayna about her.
The elevator made the slowest ascent in history, but Tegan was finally facing Rayna’s door. Rapping twice, it wasn’t long before the wood slab swung wide revealing the loveliest woman on the planet. Her mouth dropping as she took in the huge bouquet he had clutched in one hand.
The flowers had cost a small fortune, but he didn’t give a shit. Once the florist had begun to group the pale pink blooms together, a dozen just didn’t seem to be enough, so he’d kept asking for more to be added until the girl had to get help in order to hold the stems together to wrap the satin ribbon around the massive bunch.
“Wow, are those for me?”
“I almost gave them to a little old lady downstairs, but she wasn’t nearly as cute as you.”
“What?” she chuckled. “If it was Mrs. Reimer, it’s a wonder you didn’t.”
“I didn’t get her name.”
“Really sweet, grandmother-ish with a cane?”
“Pfft, that’s the one.”
“She’s the sweetest soul ever. So, come on in and let’s get them in water before we leave.” Rayna stepped back to allowing him to enter.
“Damn, there’s not much left in here to move,” Tegan said, looking around at all the empty space.
“I gave all of Brent’s things to charity. They took the last of it away about an hour ago.” Rayna dug around in a top cabinet until she came back with a suitable vessel for the huge bouquet. “I think this pitcher will do. These are really beautiful, Tegan, thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” His chest swelled with pride over her reaction to his gift. He’d never wanted to impress a girl this bad in his life.
“So, are there any pink roses left in the city?” she asked, smiling up at him.
Her dove gray eyes melted him at her feet. Wishing with everything in him that the baby would have her eye color and not the cold death stare he was rocking.
Her smile fell away, and he realized he was staring. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to stare at you. You ready to go?”
“Sure, just let me grab my purse.” Locking the door behind them, she took hold of Tegan’s arm as they made their way down the elevator. “I’m looking forward to eating at this little Italian place. I’ve always wanted to go, but never had the opportunity, and Brent never wanted to take me.”
“Pfft, well Brent was a fucking idiot.” He couldn’t hold back the opinion no matter how wrong it was to speak ill of the dead. Rayna didn’t have an unkind bone in her body and knew she wasn’t trying to play on his sympathy, she was just making a statement of fact.
“That’s one thing I really like about you, Tegan, you say what you think,” she laughed.
“I’ve never had much of a filter.”
“Well, don’t get one on my account. I’d rather know what’s on inside your head than trying to guess.”
Mrs. Reimer was just heading back into the lobby with a small package tucked in close under one arm as he and Rayna were coming off the elevator.
Tegan quickly stepped back to hold the elevator door open for her as she approached.
“Hello Mrs. Reimer,” Rayna greeted the older woman who was looking between them with a twinkle in her eye.
“Well, hello dear. I must say the two of you make a handsome couple. Have a nice evening and try to do something naughty. You’re only young once,” she said, winking at them.
Tegan could feel his cheeks burn at the unexpected remark, but thanked the lady and reclaimed his date who was as red faced as he felt.
Tegan had gone with her to every prenatal appointment. She was twelve weeks along now and best they could figure, he had gotten her pregnant that first time they were together. Vehn had made many jokes at Tegan’s expense over that fact. Acting as if he were annoyed at the ribbing, he couldn’t hide the mirth shining behind his eyes as he tried not to smile openly.
She was due for another ultrasound soon and couldn’t wait to see the difference from the initial one she’d had to determine her due date. The first one was nothing more than a small bubble with what looked like a gummy bear housed inside, but Tegan had proudly shown the wavy snapshot to every one of his clients like the proud father he was.
They hadn’t discovered the sex of the baby and wouldn’t until she had an ultrasound once she was twenty weeks along.
Rayna sat on her artist’s stool shaking her head at the tiny garment Avie had brought today. She had a shopping bag full of tiny dresses and pink onesies u
pstairs in her temporary apartment on the third floor, all from the doting receptionist. She had left the tags on all of it just in case Avie’s prediction about the baby’s gender was incorrect. She and Tegan both had a feeling she was right. She always seemed to be right about everything.
Her ears perked up when the bell over the door rang announcing Tegan’s arrival to the studio. She didn’t need to look down the hall to know that it was him. Her heart would leap, and her skin would tingle whenever he was near. He was slowly reeling her back in, breaking through her resistance to not lose herself completely to him.
They were still doing the whole dating thing. She’d recently given into her baser instincts and had sex with him. Damn, the man was too yummy for his own good. It was amazing she had held back this long with all the making out they’d been doing at her front door when he kissed her goodnight.
She’d allowed his curious hand inside her panties one night. It hadn’t taken but a moment of him working her neglected flesh before she’d cum all over the length of his probing fingers, all while standing up with her back against the wall in the hallway.
Sex to her was more than just an act of pleasure, it was a bonding of souls. She would lose a tiny piece of her heart to him every time they did it, so she was trying to refrain and keep a little distance between them so she could mend her trust issues she now had before she lost herself entirely.
Tegan had come clean about the situation with Tracy. They were due to go to court next week which meant another trip to Boston. Shivering, she shook off the cold dread that settled around her every time she thought about him leaving and what had happened the last time.
Sometimes he would get a faraway look, and she would gently coax him back by asking what was wrong. It was always about his impending court date. She could tell he struggled with sharing his feelings with her, but he was trying and that’s all anyone could ask.
She had cried for him when he’d recounted his childhood and the horrid way he had been left behind by his parents.
He’d shared with her the mess that was his marriage and the horrible lie about the baby that wasn’t truly his. She couldn’t imagine how devastated he must be and could empathize with him about being lied to by a person you should have been able to trust.
Tegan wasn’t the asshole he presented to the world, he was a damaged soul trying to deal with his own shit, and his way was to retreat into himself. She couldn’t help but remain a little hurt over the way he’d treated her, but now she had a better understanding of what made him tick.
The constant twitching in his jaw told her he was anxious about what the judge would say and hoped he could finally get on with the ninety-day waiting period and end his unwanted marriage.
It seemed important to him to be officially divorced before the baby was born. Rayna just hoped for the best and knew there would come a day that he would be free of Tracy. She didn’t hold her mother’s beliefs that it was bad to have a child out of wedlock. Their baby would be loved and wanted whether she was married to Tegan or not.
When her apartment had sold, she had turned down Tegan’s offer to share his suite at Vehn’s. She just didn’t feel ready to make that kind of move with him.
He seemed a little deflated by her answer, but helped her move what little bit of stuff she had left to the third floor above Exotic Ink, graciously giving her the space she needed.
He made certain to tell her he loved her each night whether in person or over the phone. She had recently begun to say it back. How could she keep from it? Her heart belonged to him and every time she felt the flutter of their baby inside her womb, she thought her heart would burst with the love she felt for both of them.
She’d read somewhere that cocoa butter helped prevent stretch marks, and Tegan had made rubbing the creamy concoction over her belly his new favorite past time and with every pass of his hand, that permanent question scribed on his forearm would flex like a neon sign, remaining unanswered. He had stayed true to his word and hadn’t hounded her for a response.
In the beginning, she had fallen hard and fast in love with him, but after the way he’d acted, she was trying her damnedest to be cautious. That underlying fear that he would push her away again was a foul smell that seemed to linger.
“Are you ready to go?”
Her heart sighed when she took in his massive form filling her doorway. Damn the man was gorgeous, all long hair, heavily muscled, and tatted up.
“Pfft, if you don’t stop eye fucking me Kitten, we won’t make it to your doctor’s appointment on time.”
For the love… had she just licked her lips while sizing him up?
It seemed like since she’d gotten pregnant that her vagina was wet all the time. Not a little moist like before, but soaking wet and every time she laid eyes on Tegan, all she could think of was sex. Squirming in her seat, maybe they could fool around once they got back. I mean, it’s not like he was going to accidentally get her pregnant.
“Yes, I’m ready.” Tegan arched a brow at her throaty response.
They were both off work today, and Tegan had made plans to take her to lunch afterwards.
Maybe they could skip lunch, her vagina suggested.
Grabbing her purse, she refocused her lust on something else she craved. She had never been a foodie, but now that she was pregnant, she had some specific cravings and ice cream in any form or fashion was at the top of her list, which meant they were headed back to the same diner in Greenwich with the amazing milk shakes. The place seemed to have a limitless variety of flavors, but chocolate was her favorite and despite pouring over the menu every time they went, she never deviated.
Turning back to face him, her eyes roved over his massive shoulders and lower to his thick jean clad thighs, desire uncoiling inside her belly.
Her heart was so fucked.
After lunch, they rounded the corner at Greenwich Street, making their way back down W 12th, Rayna’s favorite tree lined street. They had made a habit out of strolling the lovely residential areas in Greenwich Village to take advantage of the nice weather.
What she really needed to be doing was looking for a place to live other than daydreaming about the places she couldn’t afford. For the love… she couldn’t live on the third floor of Evana’s forever. The baby would be here before she knew it, but everything her realtor had shown her just held no appeal.
Coming up on the townhouse they had toured a few weeks ago, her heart sank when she noticed the missing for sale sign. It wasn’t like she could ever afford to buy the place, but she had spent so much time thinking about what she could do with the garden she had fallen in love with, it had made the place feel like hers.
"Oh... it sold!" she exclaimed, blinking back tears. Her emotions were always on the verge of spilling over now that she was pregnant. "I hope it was a family that bought it with little ones that can enjoy the garden."
"It was, and I have it on good authority that they will." Tegan started up the steps, tugging her along behind him.
“Oh, Tegan. I really don’t want to go back in there. You were right, it is depressing to look at things you can’t have.”
“Come on, humor me.” He tugged again. Relenting, she followed him up the stone steps.
“How do you have a key?”
Ignoring her question completely, he opened things up and stepped inside. A light scent of wood stain hung in the air and there were drop cloths here and there as if someone had been working.
Last time they had toured the place, it was a bit on the rough side, but it looked as if some renovations were underway. The new owner had chosen to remove the plaster from one of the exterior walls and the warmth from the old brick brought the place to new life.
She admired the new finish on the banister as they made their way to the second floor. Her hand hovered just above the freshly stained wood, but she kept her touch to herself.
Sighing, she completely understood what he had meant when he’d said it was depressing to be aro
und things you could never afford. Even with the sale of her apartment and insurance policy, she wouldn’t even be able to scrape together a down payment on this place, much less afford the mortgage. The realtor had explained it was a good buy for the market and the seller was motivated, even so, the price tag was way above her price range.
She needed to get moving on finding a place of her own. She’d invaded Vehn’s studio on the third floor long enough. Even though Evana claimed she didn’t mind Rayna living on the floor above her, she couldn’t help but feel like an intruder. Now living off the charity of others, she could totally empathize with Tegan.
Looking all around and at the floor beneath her feet, the second floor had all been freshly painted and stained. Still holding onto its charm, whoever had done the refinishing was careful and thoughtful to freshen up the place without taking away from the character of the old structure.
Tegan squeezed her hand to get her attention. “I wanted you to see something.”
Curious, she still didn’t understand why they were here or why he had a key. Moving down to the end of the hall, Tegan paused in front of a closed door. His hand on the knob, he seemed to swallow hard as if he were preparing himself for something important.
Swinging the door wide, Rayna gasped at the room beyond. It had been transformed into a nursery decked out in pale pink and cream. It was gorgeous, everything she would have picked, like it had been plucked right out of a magazine. It was perfect. A wave of jealousy for the new mother ran through every cell of her being.
“Do you like it?”
Turning her head to the sound of his voice, she murmured through her envy, “It’s beautiful, but I don’t understand why you brought me here. To be honest, it’s kind of sad to see something this amazing and it not be mine.”
“But, it is yours. Yours and the baby’s,” he said, laying his large hand on her belly. “Remember the last time we were here and I told you that if I ever had a few million laying around, I would buy this place for you?”